Clock, telltale, alarm, and the like.



C. P. ELIESUN.

CLOCK, TELLTALE, ALARM, AND THE LIKE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 17, 1911.

1 57,951 Patented Apr. 1,1913.

' with the point UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GHAIMSQNOVITZ PROSPER ELIESON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

CLOCK, TELLTALE, ALARM, AND THE LIKE.

' Application filed June 17,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

1911. Serial No. 633,799.

clock work itself forms part of. the driving weight.

According to the present invention, the casing of the clock is weightedand the driving pinion for the clock work engages a vertical rack, whilethe clock and its casing when falling'areguided and balanced so thatpractically the Whole weight of the clock and its case acts at the pointof contact of the pinion with the vertical rack. To this end the centerof weight or the line of action of the weight is arranged as near aspossible to coincide with or pass through the point of contact of thedriving pinion with the rack.

According to the preferred construction the clock is incased in a weightarranged either all around it or at the sides and this weighted clock isbalanced and guided on two parallel vertical columns, one of which isprovided with teeth on -its inner surface which faces the other columnWhile the driving pinion for the clockworkengages with these teeth.The-center of weight is then very approximately arranged to coincide ofcontact of the pinion and its rack. 'The same result however will beobtained if the center of weight. is verti-- cally above or verticallybelow the bearing point of the pinion on the rack. Of course more thantwo columns may be provided and in some cases eflicient guiding andbalancing may be obtained with one column.

only, but I prefer to employ two or more columns. The driving pinion isalso preferably provided with a one way clutch and starting mechanism isconveniently used for starting "the operation of the escapement whentheclockiis moved to its uppermost position.

Figure'l, is a front elevation of one form of clock according to theinvention. Fig. 2, is a rear view of the clock on a larger scale showingthe driving rack and pinion in engagement therewith. Fig. 3, is aninverted plan of the clock partly broken away to show the ratchetmechanism. Fig. 4, is a detail view of the ratchet mechanism. Fig. 5, isa detail cross section of the rack column. Fig. 6, is a frontel'evation'partly in section illustrating the invention applied to analarm clock. Fig. 7, is a detail sectional view illustrating thestarting device for the escape-' ment of a clock.

In carrying out the invention according to one mode as for example-inthe application to a clock having the usual lever escapement controlledby a balance wheel-the usual main spring and winding barrel aredispensed with and in lieu thereof a wheel a, forming the first wheel ofthe usual clock train, is freely mounted on the arbor b. The wheel a, isprovided with a pivoted pawl d, adapted to be held by a spring 6, inengagement with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 0, fixed upon the arbor b.A pinion f, is also mounted upon the arbor b, so as to be compelled toturn therewith and it is adapted to mesh with a rack g, formed on acolumn h, down whichthe clock i, is caused to descend under the actionof gravity. As the clock descends, the pinion f, is rotated and drivesthe clock work through the medium of the arbor b,ratchet wheel 0, pawl03, and wheel a. As the weight of the clock is constant the tensionorforce actuating the clock remains uniform untilthe clock reaches thebase of the column h, when, by virtue of .the ratchet wheel 0, and pawld, the clock can be merely raised again to reenergize it. As the'clockis being raised, the pinion f, rotates the ratchet wheel idly. Ifthepinion f, and the clock case be suitably arranged, a single col- --onlyone column 5., being provided with a rack, the other is, being smoothand merely acting as aguide so as to counteract any tendency on the partof the clock 6, to tilt. By

this means frictionor bindingbetween thev clock and, the column, orcolumns, can be practically avoided. In order to give a bet terappearance the rack 9, may be hidden by a lip Z, Fig. 5, the'lip beingformed either integrally with the column 71., or by a thin plate screwedor otherwise secured thereto.

The clock frame m, may be fitted with any suitable guide pieces, such asscrews 11,

for receiving or engaging with the column or columns h, 7:, it beingpreferable to have four points of contact when two columns are used, twoabove and two below the pinion f, as indicated in Fig. 2. The screws 12,may have eccentric portions adapted-to engage the edges of the columnsh, 7:, in order to provide for adjustment.

In use the clock 2', remains suspended on the columns h, 70, and can berepeatedly raised to any position thereon. In order to insure that theclock shall not'stop when being raised, a. power-maintainer of anyconvenient form may be provided. Instead of a power maintainer or inaddition thereto a restartermay be provided such as a small push pin 0,Figs. 1 and 11, in a suitable position in the clock, so that the pin 0,will engage the frame 7), or a projection g, thereon at the top of thecolumns, when the clock is raised, and being thereby pressed willautomatically restart the clock. The end 1', of the pin 0, is adapted toact on a light spring a, which in turn engages the usual escapementlever 25, and so starts the clock. The end 1", of the pin 0, isnormallywithheld from engagement with the springs by aspring u. Should the clockbe raised to an intermediate position, thevpin 0, may be pressed by thefinger or thumb.

The weight of the clock and an ordinary.

case are not sufficient to drive the clockwork of an accurate clock evenwith accurate balancing. Additional weight is therefore necessary andmay conveniently be provided by means of a metal ring a), surroundingthe clock 2', and thus forming an ornamental case for-it. By surroundingthe clock with the weight, the available space between the clock and thebase w, on

which the columns h, is, are mounted, is not unduly reduced, which is animportant feature, as the distance of the descent of the clockdetermines the period of time during which it can be driven withoutnecessitating reenergizing. It is to be understood that the additionalweight may take any other desired form and it may be utilized as anornament, for instance, weights in the form of wingsmay bemounted on thesides of the clock casing. The weight is in all cases to be disposed andthe clock is to be balanced so that the entire weight is effective atthe point of contact of the pinion and its rack. This may be done byextending the weight rearward as shown at 26 in Fig. 3, so that thecenter of weight comes into line with the rack.

A clock as above described can be readily made to close electriccircuits during its descent, so as to sound an alarm or actuate anyother devices at predetermined intervals. Such an application of analarm clock is illustrated in Fig. 6. One of the contacts m, for theelectric bell circuit is upon the clock'and the other y, is carried by aslide 2, on a metal support 2, so that it may be set in any desiredposit-ion thereon. The support 2, is provided with a scale indicatinghours and subdivisions thereof, so that the slide 2, may be set in anyrequired posit-ion below the contact a0,acc-ording to .the period oftime after which the alarm is to be sounded. For instance, if the clockbe raised into any position to reenergize it and it is desired that thealarm. bell shall. ring in six hours time, the slide 2, will be moved onthe support 2, through a distance from the clock contact correspondingto six hour divisions on the scale. As the clock descends it willultimately push its contact m, into engagement with the contact 3/, andso complete the electric bell circuit. One or both of the contacts 00and 1 are preferably of springy materialso that the friction orresistance encountered during the period of contact will not beadversely on the clock- I claim: 1. In combination with the clockwork'train, escapement mechanism, hour and minute hands and cooperating dialof a bodily movable, falling clock, means for driving said clockcomprislng a driving pinion for said train, a vertical rack with whichsaid driving pinion engages and an additional weight of predeterminedamount carried by said clock.

2. In combination with the clockwork train, escapement mechanism, hourand minute hands and cooperating dial of a falling clock, means fordriving said clock comprising a driving pinion for said train, a rackwith which said driving pinion engages and an additional weight disposedsubstantially symmetrically about the point of contact of said drivingpinion and rack.

3. In combination with the clockwork train, escapement mechanism, hourand minute hands and cooperating dial of a falling clock, a drivingpinion for said train an additional weight arranged around the clock anddisposed symmetrically with reference to the driving pinion, a verticalrack and means for guiding said clockwork and weight independently ofsaid rack and pinion. I A

4:. In combination with a falling clock and the clockwork train andescapement mechanism thereof, a driving pinion for said clock, anadditional annular weight dis posed about said clockwork and drivingpinion, a vertical rack and means for guiding said clock and weightindependently of said rack and pinion.

5. In combination with a falling clock and the clockworktrain andescapement thereof, two parallel vertical standards spaced apart, teethonthe face of one'of said standards opposite the other standard, apinion on the clockwork between said standards engaging in said teeth, aone-way and means enga for guiding said c ock and weight indeclutch onsaid inlon, an additional weight symmetrically, 'sposed about saidclockwork with said standards pendently of the pinionand rack.

6. In combinatlon with a clockwork train and escapement of arising andfalling time piece,,two parallel vertical standards spaced apart, teethon'the face of one of said standards opposite the other standard, apinion on the clockwork engagingin said teeth, a one-way clutch on saidpinion, an additional weight symmetrically disposed about said clockwork, means "ength said' standards'for guiding said 0100 weightindependentlyof the pinion and ork and rack and means engaging theescapement for starting it moving when said clockwork and weight aremoved to the top of the rack. '7

- 7. Incombination with 'a clockwork train and escapement of -anascendingand descending time iece, two parallel vertical standards spaceapart, teeth on the face of one of said standards 0 po'slte'the otherstandard, a pinion on t eclockwork engaging in said teeth, aIone-wayclutch on said pinion, an additional we' t symmetri 'cally disposedhabouit saiddcllefs 'fork, means engaging wit sai Jstan a or guiding saidclockwork and weight independently of the pinion and rack and ad'ustablemeans for co-acting with said c ockworkand weight to sound ."an alarm atany desired point in the descent of the clock. 1 i 8. In combin tionwith a falling clock, its

escapement, the clockwork train, the dial and time indicating secured-tothe clockwork engaging said teeth,

a one-way clutch transmitting motion from 1 said pinion to saidclockwork train, an addi-.

l'tional weight of predetermined amount can ried by the clock fordriving its train and' means for guiding the clock in its descent.

, hands thereof, oftwo standards, teeth on one standard, :a pinion 9. Incombination withisa falling clock and the clockworktrain and escapementthereof,

two parallel vertical standards, spaced apart, teeth on the face of oneof said standards opposite the other standard,-a pinion on the clockworkengaging in said teeth, a

one-way clutch on said pinion, said pinion being to the rear-of theclockwork, an addi- I tional annular weight disposed around saidclockwork and rollers engaging saidstandardsforguiding said clockworkand weight independently of the pinion and rack.

10. In combination with a falling clock and the clockwork train andescape mecha- .nism thereof, means for driving said clock comprising adriving pinion for said train, a rack w1th WhlOh sald drivlng pinionengages, and an additional weight disposed substantially symmetricallyabout the driving pinion, and means for automatically starting saidescape mechanism when the clock is raised;

.11. In combination with. a falling clock and the clockwork train andescapement mechanism thereof, means for driving said clock comprising adriving pinion for said train, a rack with which said driving pinionengages and a weight in addition to that 30 on the clock for driving theclock work train and escapement mechanism and means for automaticallystarting the escapement mechanism when the clock is raised.

12. In combination with a falling clock, having a clock-work train,* andan escapement, means for driving clock, comprising a driving plmon forsaid train, a rack with which said driving pinionengages, an

additional weight of predetermined amount 9 disposed substantiallysymmetrically" about the driving pinion, a finger adapted to eng'ge apart of the escapement and a memr carried by the clock for actuatingsaid finger to re-start the escapement when the

